Have you met John?
I didn’t meet him till he was an old man though I had known of him since I came on board. I have heard him speak several times telling about the movement and his time with our leader. There is was always a fierceness and intensity about John that I don’t see in the other leaders. I know that in the big picture the story is not about John. He is just a player, a believer, a follower, but there is more. I’m sure that you like me sometimes wonder why this guy or why that guy is called. Of course we don’t know the plan from the beginning to the end. Even though the story is not about John, I find myself wondering why he was chosen for his part. As far as I know he had no education beyond being a fisherman. He’s not a rabbi or a philosopher, so why John? Perhaps like so many that have been called it was because of his lack of qualifications so that the divine plan could be showcased instead of the players. Perhaps I will ask when I get the chance, or not.
So back to John, we know that he and his brother were fishermen born into a family of fishermen as is the custom. I doubt that John thinks of himself as brave but I think he is. Every day he faced the power of the sea in a very small boat. Every day even one small misstep could cause the death of one of his crew or him. John is a big man with broad shoulders, well muscled and defined forearms, even at an advanced age he is straight. There is an energy about him that is hard to describe. His face is covered with a full beard which accentuates his large nose which has been broken at some point. His black eyes glow with a fire that makes me tremble. His skin shows the ravages of sun, sea, and wind. When he speaks there is a power that makes me listen with rapt attention, I know that he will say something important. I know that he has been here since the beginning.
As I am sure is true of most you who have heard the story from others, I did not expect to learn any surprises from John’s first hand account. I did learn something and I think that you might also. Take a little time with God in 1John. I know that you will be blessed. All of his fellow apostles are gone now, John is the only one alive who saw our great leader, who walked with him, and heard him speak. I can tell from his very first words that he knows the truth and has no choice but to share it with a passion born of a divine call.
John is a survivor, a man’s man, strong enough to endure the storms yet so humble it brings tears to my eyes as I listen to him tell the story. There is gentleness about this fierce giant that I know comes from deep inside his heart where Jesus Christ is alive. God has shared John with us so that we can know His mercy and saving grace. John has only one agenda, and that is to share the love of God with you.
So back to John, we know that he and his brother were fishermen born into a family of fishermen as is the custom. I doubt that John thinks of himself as brave but I think he is. Every day he faced the power of the sea in a very small boat. Every day even one small misstep could cause the death of one of his crew or him. John is a big man with broad shoulders, well muscled and defined forearms, even at an advanced age he is straight. There is an energy about him that is hard to describe. His face is covered with a full beard which accentuates his large nose which has been broken at some point. His black eyes glow with a fire that makes me tremble. His skin shows the ravages of sun, sea, and wind. When he speaks there is a power that makes me listen with rapt attention, I know that he will say something important. I know that he has been here since the beginning.
As I am sure is true of most you who have heard the story from others, I did not expect to learn any surprises from John’s first hand account. I did learn something and I think that you might also. Take a little time with God in 1John. I know that you will be blessed. All of his fellow apostles are gone now, John is the only one alive who saw our great leader, who walked with him, and heard him speak. I can tell from his very first words that he knows the truth and has no choice but to share it with a passion born of a divine call.
John is a survivor, a man’s man, strong enough to endure the storms yet so humble it brings tears to my eyes as I listen to him tell the story. There is gentleness about this fierce giant that I know comes from deep inside his heart where Jesus Christ is alive. God has shared John with us so that we can know His mercy and saving grace. John has only one agenda, and that is to share the love of God with you.
Posted by Daniel Harsh at 12/15/2009 9:48 PM 
Categories: Christian,Church,Faith,religion,Bible,Jesus Christ
Tags: Holy Bible Religion Christianity Faith God Jesus Christ
Categories: Christian,Church,Faith,religion,Bible,Jesus Christ
Tags: Holy Bible Religion Christianity Faith God Jesus Christ
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